Senior men’s head coach Warren Gatland has named the Wales team to play France in the opening match of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations at Stade de France, Paris on Friday 31 January (KO 20.15h GMT, live on ITV and S4C).
Three Ospreys are named in the starting team with Gareth Thomas, Jac Morgan (C) and Owen Watkin all given the nod. Dan Edwards is named on the bench.
Josh Adams, Liam Williams and Dafydd Jenkins return to the Wales starting XV at wing, fullback and in the second row respectively.
Captain Jac Morgan starts at openside flanker. He is joined in the back row by James Botham (blindside flanker) and Aaron Wainwright (no. 8).
Will Rowlands partners Jenkins in the second row.
In the Wales front row Evan Lloyd is named at hooker for his first Test start. Henry Thomas is selected at tighthead prop to also make his first start and his first Wales appearance since Rugby World Cup 2023. Gareth Thomas is at loosehead.
Tomos Williams starts at scrum-half. Ben Thomas, making his Six Nations debut, is at fly-half.
Owen Watkin lines up alongside Nick Tompkins in the midfield and Tom Rogers, named at wing, completes the starting line-up.
Among the Wales replacements, Nicky Smith is in line to win his 50th cap on Friday, while fly-half Dan Edwards would make his senior Wales debut.
Freddie Thomas and Blair Murray are in line to make their first Six Nations appearances having won their first senior international caps in the Autumn Nations Series.
Elliot Dee (hooker) and Keiron Assiratti (tighthead prop) join Smith as front row cover.
Tommy Reffell is the other replacement forward and Rhodri Williams covers scrum-half.
Gatland said: “We’re excited for the challenge on Friday. The Six Nations in the best rugby competition in the world. Every game is a big occasion. We want to go out there, embrace that and start our championship well.”
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Mae Prif Hyfforddwr Cymru, Warren Gatland wedi enwi ei dîm i wynebu Ffrainc yng ngêm agoriadol Pencampwriaeth Chwe Gwlad Guinness 2025 yn y Stade de France ym Mharis nos Wener yr 31ain o Ionawr.
Bydd y gêm yn fyw ar S4C ac ITV am 20.15.
Mae Josh Adams (asgellwr), Liam Williams (cefnwr) a Dafydd Jenkins (clo) yn dychwelyd i bymtheg cychwynol Cymru.
Jac Morgan fydd yn arwain y tîm a James Botham (blaenasgellwr ochr dywyll) ac Aaron Wainwright (wythwr) fydd yn ymuno gyda’u capten yn y rheng ôl.
Will Rowlands fydd partner Dafydd Jenkins yn yr ail reng.
O safbwynt y rheng flaen bydd y bachwr Evan Lloyd yn dechrau ei gêm gyntaf dros ei wlad ac mae Henry Thomas wedi ei ddewis yn safle’r prop pen tynn. Hwn fydd ei ymddangosiad cyntaf yn y crys coch ers Cwpan y Byd yn 2023. Gareth Thomas sy’n dechrau yn brop pen rhydd.
Tomos Williams a Ben Thomas fydd yr haneri a dyma fydd y tro cyntaf i Thomas ddechrau gêm yn y Chwe Gwlad.
Y pâr profiadol Owen Watkin a Nick Tompkins sydd wedi eu dewis yng nghanol y cae a Tom Rogers fydd yr asgellwr arall ynghŷd â Josh Adams.
Ymhlith yr eilyddion, bydd Nicky Smith yn ennill ei 50fed os y caiff ei alw o’r fainc – tra gall y maswr dawnus, Dan Edwards ennill ei gap cyntaf dros ei wlad.
Wedi i Freddie Thomas a Blair Murray gynrychioli Cymru am y tro cyntaf yn erbyn Awstralia yng Nghyfres yr Hydref y llynedd, fe fyddant yn cael eu profiad cyntaf o chwarae yn y Bencampwriaeth os y down nhw i’r maes yn y Stade de France nos Wener.
Elliot Dee (bachwr) a Keiron Assiratti (prop pen tynn) sy’n ymuno gyda Smith fel eilyddion y rheng flaen.
Tommy Reffell yw’r blaenwr arall sy’n dechrau ar y fainc a Rhodri Williams yw’r eilydd o fewnwr.
Dywedodd Prif Hyfforddwr Cymru, Warren Gatland: “Ry’n ni’n wirioneddol edrych ymlaen at yr her yn erbyn Ffrainc. Y Chwe Gwlad yw’r Bencampwriaeth rygbi orau’n y byd gan bod pob gêm yn achlysur anferth. ‘Ry’n ni eisiau mynd i Ffrainc, bwydo oddi-ar yr awyrgylch a chael dechrau da i’n hymgyrch.”
Wales team to play France | Tîm Cymru v Ffrainc
15. Liam Williams (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 92 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 5 caps)
13. Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 38 caps)
12. Owen Watkin (Ospreys / Gweilch – 42 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 59 caps)
10. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 7 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 59 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 35 caps)
2. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 5 caps)
3. Henry Thomas (Scarlets – 4 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 36 caps)
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 19 caps)
6. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 16 caps)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys / Gweilch – 18 caps) – captain/capten
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 52 caps)
Replacements / Eilyddion
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons / Dreigiau – 51 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 49 caps)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 10 caps)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 1 cap)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 23 caps)
21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons / Dreigiau – 5 caps)
22. Dan Edwards (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap)
23. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 3 caps)
